"All men are, by nature, free and independent, and
have certain inalienable rights, among which are those
of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring,
possessing, and protecting property, and seeking and
obtaining happiness and safety
" - Ohio State Constitution, Article I, §1, Bill of Rights - Inalienable Rights (1851)

A NEW TWIST TO THE MAHONING VALLEY FRACKING CONVERSATION: MILITARY VETERAN, LANDOWNER, RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, ED HASHBARGER, PRESENTS HIS PERSPECTIVE ON TOXIC FRACKING WASTE INJECTION WELLS, FORCED POOLING, SEISMIC TESTING AND MORE AT THE SECOND MONTHLY FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY PUBLIC TOWNHALL – STYLE MEETING ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2012, AT THE ELM STREET YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, UNITARIAN CHURCH

Youngstown, Ohio, 12/04/12 – Before Ed Hashbarger knew what he knows now about fracking and related processes, he was likely to think: “Drill baby drill.” That is not what he says today – not even close.

Hashbarger says he is now actively opposing fracking until the technology catches up, via scientific studies, to ensure that it can be done safely. He says not enough science has been done, yet.

So exactly what caused this landowner, Marine military veteran, and retired police officer to change his mind and become so actively against fracking, with the technology as it stands today?

“This all started for me … when I attended an oil and gas meeting just to gather some knowledge, being a farmer and a conservative … I asked a question: What happens to landowners who are just not interested in leasing, and they told me, ‘We’ll take it from you anyways.’ …”

This idea, sometimes referred to as forced or mandatory pooling, went against Ed’s deeply held values, which resulted in his current efforts to raise public awareness of fracking-related issues and problems.

All concerned citizens and media are encouraged to attend to hear Ed Hashbarger tell his very compelling story and provide much needed fracking-related information, including about forced pooling, on Thursday, December 6, 2012, at 7 PM to 8:30 PM at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, Channing Hall, 1105 Elm St. (Elm and Illinois, across from Wick Park). EVENT on FB: http://www.facebook.com/events/444842725551072/

An interesting side note is that Ed was filmed as an extra, portraying a police officer, for the upcoming Matt Damon and John Krasinski movie Promised Land.

“The fracking issue goes beyond politics. We want to be inclusive because we are all in this together. We share common ground, which is our concern for the public health, safety and well-being of our families and our local communities and our freedom as citizens to control how we want our communities to be,” said Susie Beiersdorfer of Frackfree Mahoning Valley and Frackfree America National Coalition.

In addition to Ed’s presentation, there will be a showing of some brief films related to oil and gas drilling and updates on the latest news about fracking and related processes. A question and answer period with time for audience discussion will follow.

Topics and questions to be explored include, but are not limited to:
--The latest news on the future of Mill Creek Park and other area parks, as it relates to fracking, and the Youngstown, Ohio, Community Bill of Rights petition, which seeks to allow the citizens to vote to protect their public health and safety.

--What is mandatory or forced pooling and what does it mean to citizens as members of the community?

The citizens of Youngstown can vote YES on the Community Bill of Rights on November 6, 2018 to prohibit toxic trespass in the drinking water protected area of the Meander Reservoir, in residential areas bordering Mill Creek MetroParks and in the populated City of Youngstown.
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